Bolivia and Paraguay Tours to See South America’s Landlocked Siblings

The Western Hemisphere contains only two landlocked countries: Bolivia & Paraguay. Much of their modern history and culture has been shaped by this status. But before you write them off for their lack of seaside beaches, you might consider the wonders hidden away in these lesser-traveled countries. On a Bolivia and Paraguay tour, you will find unexpected treasures, byproducts of a ragtag history of colonies living in a somnolent cul-de-sac outside of time.

Let us begin where the air is thin, in La Paz, Bolivia, and work our way to Paraguay from there.

Bolivia

With the largest proportion of indigenous people in Latin America, Bolivia truly stands out among its neighbors. The landscape, too, is what Mars would resemble if llamas and quinoa populated its mountainous slopes. Traveling through Bolivia remains one of my favorite periods spent in South America. I found far too much to do and see. Because nearly every traveler lands in the capital, we’ll start there.

La Paz

The highest capital—one of two Bolivian capitals, actually—in the world sits at nearly 12,000ft, its suburbs spilling into the valley like an urban glacier. The streets are raucous, its people miniaturized, and the fútbol games exhausting for the away team (try sprinting at that elevation!).

Share lunch with the native Aymara people in the upper reaches of the city, known as El Alto. Admire the intricate trinkets at the Witches Market, such as their dried llama fetuses, used as good luck charms for a number of occasions. If you feel like your luck is already strong, you can bike down Death Road. Known as the most dangerous road in the world, bikers drop 11,000ft over 40 miles. I survived it, and recommend it for the thrill seekers!

Uyuni

Roughly the size of Jamaica, the flattest place on Earth displays a Dali aesthetic. The salts flats of Uyuni are so flat, in fact, that orbiting satellites calibrate their altimeters by focusing on this pale, southwestern corner of Bolivia.

A three-day tour of the salt flats and the surrounding area is well worth it. Along the way, you may spot flamingoes, llamas, hillstars (Andean hummingbird), viscachas (similar to a chinchilla), vicuñas (wild variant of the llama) and maybe even a condor. Make sure to take your own perspective shots when you’re standing on the blinding salt flats!

Our guides will help transfer you to your bus. Enjoy a six-hour scenic ride from Uyuni to Bolivia’s second capital city.

Sucre

Lower down the eastern side of the Andes sits Bolivia’s most beautiful city, and judicial capital of the country: Sucre. Travelers come here to marvel at the white colonial architecture and relative wealth, for the professional Spanish and Quechua language schools, and much more.

Learn a few words of Quechua at the Tarabuco Sunday Market, one of the largest in the region. This is also the place to buy gifts for friends and family back home. Get an early start to your day with a few salteñas, a Bolivian treat served only in the mornings.

A simple one-hour flight from Sucre takes you to Bolivia’s largest city, Santa Cruz. From there, it’s just a two and a half hour flight to Asunción.

Paraguay

Whether it’s avoiding the dry Chaco, powering the nation’s grid, or daily mixed with yerba mate, water is very important in Paraguay. Even though Paraguay shares no border with the sea, its ships bring goods to and from the Atlantic by the river. This is an obscure country in South America, and therefore a great place to visit if you’re looking for authenticity.

Asunción

Set along the Rio Paraguay, the capital of the country is full of history. Start off by visiting the oldest train station in South America, where the first steam engine chugged along in 1861. Next, head to nearby Yaguaron, which has the oldest church in Paraguay, built by the Franciscans. From there head nearby to admire the jewelry crafted in Luque. It is also there that Paraguay’s guitars and unique harps are constructed.

From Asunción our guides will take you across one of only two bridges that connect the east half of Paraguay with the west.

The Gran Chaco

In the 1930’s Bolivia & Paraguay fought the bloody Chaco War. Nobody really won. Today, the Chaco is a dry sprawl of gauchos and Mennonites (similar to the Amish). We will take you to Filadelfia, where Mennonites work to supply the whole country with milk. Along the way, see if you can spot a nandu, South America’s ostrich.

We will take you back to Asunción, in order to get to South America’s best place to view wildlife!

The Pantanal

While riding horseback through the refreshing wetlands of the Pantanal, how many animals can you spot? This region contains caiman, capybaras, crested caracaras, anacondas, marsh deer, giant anteaters, hyacinth macaws and the largest and healthiest jaguar population on earth! Remember to bring your camera, seriously.

Foz do Iguazu

Voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Iguassu Falls is unleashed and stunningly dramatic. Staring down La Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s Throat) is one of those peak experiences that actually do live up to all the hype.

Very close to the falls is an example of what water can do when tamed, and it’s equally impressive.

Itaipu Dam

Itaipu is either the largest or second largest dam in the world, depending on which variable you’re concerned about. Either way, it has been voted one of the wonders of the modern world. Take a tour through the dam that supplies 90% of Paraguay and 19% of Brazil. It is because its floodgates are never fully opened that Buenos Aires isn’t underwater!

Most people will only ever explore the edges of South America. Combining a Bolivia & Paraguay tour is guaranteed to give you a memorable, varied and rare experience.